PRESS RELEASE

11 June 2015

Council and NHS Shetland await confirmation of integration

The integration of health and social care services in Shetland has now reached a key stage, as Shetland Islands Council and NHS Shetland have received endorsement of the integration plans by Scottish Ministers.

Local authorities and health boards across Scotland have been submitting their plans – or Integration Schemes – to create partnerships for health and social care services in their areas. To date, 14 out of 32 plans have been submitted, including Shetland’s.

The Integration Scheme for Shetland has recently been approved by the Cabinet Secretary for Health & Wellbeing, Shona Robison MSP, and the Order to establish these partnerships has now been laid before the Scottish Parliament. In Shetland, an Integrated Joint Board (IJB), has been established and will be legally constituted by 27th June.

The IJB will develop and oversee strategic planning for services, while the Council and NHS Shetland will still be responsible for frontline delivery. Staff will also remain with their current employer. The IJB will include representatives of Shetland Islands Council and NHS Shetland, as well as of patients, health professionals and carers.

One of the acknowledged strengths in Shetland has been the close working relationship between the Council and NHS Shetland, which has developed over many years. The new Integration Scheme aims to further improve planning of health and social care services by removing any organisational barriers. The key target date is 1st April 2016, when integration is expected to be fully implemented across Scotland, and Shetland is well on schedule to achieve this.

The integration of health and social care covers many services currently provided by either NHS Shetland or the Council, such as Accident & Emergency, GPs, health centres, community nursing, social work for adults, care homes and occupational therapy, among others.

Councillor Cecil Smith, who has been appointed as Chair of the Integrated Joint Board in Shetland:

“The recent sign-off by the Cabinet Secretary for our Integration Scheme is an important milestone for us, so that our services can be fully integrated by next April.

“Our aim is to shift the balance away from hospital to community based settings, such as at home, wherever possible. The Council and NHS Shetland have worked well together in the past and we hope to build on this through the process of integration. The most important thing for me is that we deliver the services that will have the best results for the people in our community.”